The medal was established by Daijou-kan Law #54 on April 10, Meiji 8 [1875]. Revised (Law #141) on November 15, 1876. The revision concerned a re-categorizing of the medal from a War Dispatch Award (juugun hai) to a War Dispatch Medal (juugun kishou) . The wording is different and establishes the tradition of the war medals.

Very few of these remain. It is unclear how many of these were made, but perhaps the 3000 warriors and some of the commanders were given this medal.

It is the earliest war medal and it is the only war medal made of silver. The attached bar says 'Taiwan.'